Weekend services and Moroccan Shabbat

IMG_4789Friday night services this week at 7:00 p.m

Shabbat morning Services THIS Saturday 11/24 at 9 a.m. Torah service will be at 9:45 a.m., children’s story time at around 10:30 a.m., and a delicious MOROCCAN THEMED lunch at around 12 noon. We’re saving a seat for you! Thanks to Javis Howeth for sponsoring the delicious kidish!

Beth El Workday – THIS Sunday 11/25 from 10 – 12 p.m. Please help if you are able. All hands on deck as we get ready for a busy December.

Cantor Ben-Moshe’s Weekly Message:

This week we read about the return of Ya’akov to the land of his birth, and about his life and the life of his family. Just as he leaves the Land of Canaan with a prayer-promising to serve God in return for His protection-so too he prays on the eve of his return. However, the second prayer is very different. It is no longer the cocky youth bargaining with the Creator, but rather a mature adult who recognizes his own limitations, as well as the limitless nature of the Divine. Ya’akov expresses his fear of his brother ‘Esav, and realizes that he has nothing to offer in return for Divine Providence, but asks for it anyway. This is the model for our prayers on the High Holidays, when we ask for forgiveness not because we somehow deserve it, but because it is in God’s nature to be compassionate. This attitude of humility is one which our Tradition seeks to teach us, along with gratitude, which we expressed this week at Thanksgiving. May these states of mind always be with us and in us, and may we always, in the words of the prophet “walk humbly with our God.” Shabbat Shalom

Hazzan Yitzhak Ben-Moshe

Shabbat candle lighting times are at 5:13 p.m.
We want to encourage our community to seek support in each other during this time of grief and pain. In particular, synagogues around the country are encouraging their congregants to make a special effort to attend services this week, in an act of solidarity and strength. Congregation Beth El will be having Friday night services this week at 7:00 pm and we hope you can join us.

Next Sunday school class December 2! We can’t wait to see our BERS. Lots of Hanukkah fun and learning!

SAVE THE DATE: the Hanukkah bash of the year. We’ve been waiting patiently all year. And finally……
Sunday December 9th at 5 p.m. at Beth El. Live music from KLEZ AUSTIN, latkes, food, our famous Israeli sufganiot, more live music, fun and games for the whole family, plus the candles burnin on our menorahs. We can’t wait for the fun to begin. Free and open to the community. See you there.

Huge thank you to our Thanksgiving Chefs for such a beautiful meal and company. We enjoyed kosher Turkey and sides, and hope to make this a Thanksgiving tradition for all in Austin who would like a home away from home for the holidays in the coming years.

NEXT SISTERHOOD EVENT: November 28 @ 7 PM! Essential Oils class!
At Beth El 8902 Mesa Drive

DECEMBER SISTERHOOD EVENT: December 16 at 1 pm – Burekas with ANAT Inbar @ CBE! Don’t miss one of Anat’s famous cooking classes!

Parashat Hashavua from Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks